They are pushing back, along with the Canadian government, on plans for a bank tax, as well as other possible regulations. I think there is a sense among bankers that it is time to go on the offensive now that the crisis has stabilized, despite their central global role in the economic crisis.

Most telling is how the Globe and Mail suggests that the bankers must mean business because they are being public about it all, because they usually just use their connections to lobby for (ie: get) what they want, when they want.

“The six men leading Canada’s major banks tend to shy away from public comments about what policy makers should do. They have access to key regulators and top officials in Ottawa, and prefer to use those channels to relay messages in private.”

2. While the bankers are using their public and private influence to get what they want, there are more details of the massive security being set up for the protesters who, it seems, are not to be heard. It will be a “small army”, according to the Globe and Mail:

“For the G8 Summit [in Deerhurst, Ont.] the RCMP/OPP will require approximately 4,000 personnel with duty-related belongings to be transported at different dates, times and locations,” reads a contract tendered for shuttle buses. “For the G20 Summit, the RCMP will require approximately 5,600 personnel with duty-related belongings to be transported at different dates, times and locations.”

And there is lots of money to be made from contracts:

Dozens of buses: “For the G20 Summit the RCMP will require approximately 5,600 personnel with duty-related belongings to be transported at different dates, times and locations.”

On-site printing and shredding: “The Printing contractor will deliver, install and provide the personnel to operate the main sites printing centres as well as the remote sites… the contractor will provide personnel, photocopiers, facsimiles, scanners and shredders.”